Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-11-17
thursday NOVEMBER IT,. 1887.

despairing woman beheld only n desolatc
plain, fianked by pitiless hills, and inter
Fsccted by the white road, along which no
| sign of life could he detected. The mountains
| In all directions had renewed their crests OF
snow.
| Succeeding days moved by in torturing
suspense. As time progressed the sun Il
rays beat ever more warmly upon the earth
and By the middle of March the heat at
MONDAY was like "A foretaste of summer.
Passers-by, rs they neared the small cottage
| learned 10 expect 10 see a vision or pair OF
implorng eyes at the door or window, or
nj nightfall woman form enveloped in "a
worsted shawl pacing up and down behind
the double cacth and trio of sickly cherry
trees which constituted the sole verdure in
the garden. Mariana in the moated gauge,
quoted few of the more mischievous, In
wilful travesty of the situation, for his
wie's anxiety over Meredith's prolonged
absence was tine subject of general COM
ment, meeting with little sympathy among
those accustomed 10 the uncertainties of
frontier life.
Two men failed TO share in the prevailing
apathy, David Rowell, on his regular horse
back ride before breakfast each morning,
never failed To circle about his partners
house, and rs the sad, questioning face pre-
sented itself TO him a jocular inquiry left
his lips.
We'll, Mrs. Meredith, has that missing
lord and master of yours turned up yet !?
"a faltering negative would greet him.
Exactly as prophesied You might rs
well make up your mind you'll never see
him again. Some of those pretty Mexicans
down there have led him captive AT
which the lady he addressed, moved by her
wifely fealty and love, would break out in
passionate protest, and lose her anxiety in
wrathful Indignation, while the horseman,
rs he turned toward the country, changed
his gay look of banter Tor an expression Of
savage ferocity, and charged his steed upon
the pIickly yuccas, and mildly anathematiz-
ed the recreant spouse.
At twilight an insignificant figure with
bowed shoulders aud shock of bushy hair,
going silently about his chores in the back
yard, stole furtive glances at the sad-eyed
yonng matron and returned TO his lonely
shanty to sit and brood over n weighty pro-
ject incubating in his troubled brain. IL
was generally understood throughout the
community that some dark mystery at
tached 10 old Dresden, the concealment of
l. al.
name of his native city being regarded as
most eliminating evidence. But the old
fellow kept on the even tenor of his way,
attending 10 his small stock Of poultry and
selling his eggs and chickens ut an advance
of twenty-five per cent. on the market price,
wholly indifferent 10 the praise or blame
of the rest of humanity.
Early in the third week after the young
prospector's promised return there began to
be little stir in downtown circles. News
of fresh Apache outbreak had been receiv-
ed, which argued i'll for any unprotected
prospectors in their vicinity. From laugh
ing indifference the business men began 10
discuss the chances of Merediths safety.
He was a gallant fellow, remarked one.
1t was noticeable that he employed the past
tense
'It seems pity to be inactive observed
another. IF any Of the men want TO 90 out
and look for him, I'll be one of them But
il was generally conceded that the time for
help was past. ;
David Rowell, who was il silent auditor
on these occasions, persevered in his daily
rides and never fiinched in his established
programme but the face he turned to the
plains after these recontres had lost its saw
age expression and was fixed and stern in
its pity for the young wife, over whose head
was suspended n Damoclean sword, liable
at any moment to fall.